sk4ek said...

sk4ek at 09:00 AM JST - 31st July

Why the emphasis on the fact that local residents had not been informed? These are military deserters, not sexual predators (well, at least I hope so). Are local residents informed when other kinds of criminals are out and about? I don't recall ever having received such a notice in my…

Posted in 6 of 12 U.S. deserters in Japan remain unaccounted for at 09:00 AM JST - 31st July
sk4ek at 02:43 PM JST - 29th July

I've also lived in Japan for over a decade, and have never had a problem traveling in the country, whether high-end resorts or dinky business hotels, ryokan in the country or restaurants in the city. Japan has one of the best rail systems in the world, generally excellent service across…

Posted in No. of foreign tourists visiting Japan plunges 29% in Jan-June at 02:43 PM JST - 29th July
sk4ek at 09:32 AM JST - 28th July

Geez... only in Japan would a male involved in promoting a sport like judo seriously suggest that "allowing women to wear pink outfits" would somehow attract more women to the sport.

Posted in Despite Olympic achievements, female judoka are few and frustrated at 09:32 AM JST - 28th July
sk4ek at 12:15 PM JST - 27th July

I'm not much of a beer drinker, so I stay away from the really strong stouts and ales, but among Japanese beers I do like Asahi Super Dry and Kirin's Heartland (available, I think, only on tap). I'll drink Red Hook (from Seattle, available in Tokyo) from time to time,…

Posted in Which brand gets your vote for the best beer? at 12:15 PM JST - 27th July
sk4ek at 06:43 AM JST - 26th July

I'd go just to see Patti Smith. Hardly third-rate or a has-been. One of the greats, rocking just as hard as she always has.

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sk4ek at 05:08 PM JST - 23rd July

This is just plain creepy.

Posted in Humanoid struts its stuff in wedding gown at 05:08 PM JST - 23rd July
sk4ek at 03:35 PM JST - 21st July

See above "Which celebrities are you tired of reading and hearing about?"

Posted in Junichi Ishida says he’s confident relationship with Riko Higashio will go well at 03:35 PM JST - 21st July
sk4ek at 01:53 PM JST - 20th July

Nothing spells a successful case like an arrest warrant from the Chiba police...

Posted in 28-year-old man placed on wanted list for murder, abduction at 01:53 PM JST - 20th July
sk4ek at 10:45 AM JST - 19th July

What a dangerous and shortsighted precedent to set so early in the evolution of the lay juror system.

This babysitting mindset in government would rather avoid the problem altogether, rather than putting the effort into creating safeguards and working to legislate against such possible reprisals.

Is the justice system incapable…

Posted in Prosecutors to ask court not to try gangster under jury system for fear of reprisals at 10:45 AM JST - 19th July
sk4ek at 06:36 AM JST - 19th July

In the U.S., at least, local police for many years had no jurisdiction over (or preferred to avoid) questions of legal residency, and would not ask about immigration status, employment, etc. That has changed, and these kinds of questions are becoming more common, even in ordinary traffic stops. In Japan,…

Posted in My first run-in with the police at 06:36 AM JST - 19th July